Mix Tape Friday: Misery Masala

So last week’s mix tape was all about sex and candy, flowers and fluttering hearts. But not everyone got to celebrate and swoon last Thursday — and thus today’s mix tape is for you. I’ve simmered up a masala of misery — chunky bites of unrequited love and heartbreak, with a dash of bitterness and a sweet hint of hope. I didn’t get too spicy with the hopelessness and despair because I believe there’s always another great dish waiting to be served.

I’m getting excited about the new season of Top Chef!

It ain’t all love and happiness every day, kids. And there’s nothing better than a sad, sad song to help us fully enjoy that funk. Sometimes you just need to feel sorry for your lonely ol’ self.

Al Green :: Tired of Being Alone

The Young Rascals :: (I've Been) Lonely too Long

The Cardigans :: Lovefool

Otis Redding :: Mr. Pitiful

Liz Phair :: Extraordinary

Matthew Sweet :: Girlfriend

Wings :: Arrow Through Me

Billy Bragg :: Wish You Were Her

The Carpenters :: Superstar

Elvis Costello :: I Want You

Buzzcocks :: Ever Fallen in Love (With Someone You Shouldn’t Have?)

Joy Division :: Love Will Tear Us Apart

Harold Melvin & The Bluenotes :: The Love I Lost (Part 1)

Derek & The Dominoes :: Layla

Ivan Neville :: Why Can’t I Fall in Love?

Alanis Morissette :: Uninvited

Jeff Buckley :: Last Goodbye

The Replacements :: Unsatisfied

Res :: Let Love

eels :: Jeannie’s Diary

Lyle Lovett :: If I Were the Man You Wanted

Gladys Knight & The Pips :: If I Were Your Woman

Cake :: Sad Songs and Waltzes

Damien Rice :: When Doves Cry

Michael Stipe :: Last Day of Our Acquaintance

The Rolling Stones :: Almost Hear You Sigh

Amy Winehouse :: Wake up Alone

Cat Stevens :: Trouble

Squeeze :: Points of View

Bonnie Raitt :: I Can’t Make You Love Me

Warren Zevon :: Reconsider Me

Smokey Robinson & The Miracles :: The Tracks of My Tears

Joe Jackson :: Is She Really Going out with Him?

Rufus Wainwright :: April Fools

Smog :: Cold Blooded Old Times

Nico :: These Days

Nick Drake :: Which Will

Nanci Griffith :: Morning Song for Sally

Bob Dylan :: If You See Her, Say Hello

Tom Waits :: Trampled Rose

Rickie Lee Jones :: Company

Jimmy Buffet :: Coast of Marseilles

George Jones :: He Stopped Loving Her Today

Here’s the zip file for those of you too unrequited or bitter to right-click fortysomething times.

“Morning Song for Sally” is one of my very favorite songs in the world. It’s perfect, a lovely tale about a love that can’t be. Jerry Jeff Walker wrote it, and Nanci’s cover is sublime. I listen to it over … and over … and over again … for an hour or more. (I love the drama of heartache. And I'm a bit OCD.) It's a very visual song, almost like a short story.

Funny story about that Alanis Morrissette tune. I was enjoying a lovely, late-night online flirtfest with this wonderful guy. He was sending me his favorite YouTubes (most on the sexier side of the lyrics sheet) between e-flirts. I sent an e-mail about how cute I thought he was (he was, and I believe he still is). A few minutes later, he sends the “Uninvited” video — a song with lyrics like Like anyone would be / I am flattered by your fascination with me / Like any hot blooded woman / I have simply wanted an object to crave / But you're not allowed / You're uninvited / An unfortunate slight. Say wha… ? Never had I been slapped down so completely, misjudged someone’s interest. With a few tears stinging my eyes (remember, I live my life like a Douglas Sirk character), I sent an e-mail backing out of a date later that week … which confused him … which led to one of those dreaded he said/she saids … which led to a deeper conversation we needed to have ... about his never paying attention to the words. Boys, if you’re going to send a girl a video with a song you think is romantic, take the time to check a lyrics site, or you’ll be home watching Numb3rs again.

Between this and December’s heartbreak tape, you’re set for a weekend of moping and moaning. But then get your a** up Monday get your flirt on.

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Mix Tape Friday: The Heartbreak Tape

The beautiful and Bewitch-ing Jacy recently suggested that I do a breakup mix tape. I’ve had a blog crush on Jacy for quite a while, so I was happy to oblige the girl. But I more than obliged her — Jacy selected many of the tunes on this mix tape. She threw some very cool songs into the mix, many I hadn't considered. Methinks she's been listening to her heartache playlist too much this year. [How stupid is he to let a prize like her get away?]

This week’s theme isn’t part of my life at the moment (thank God!). I published an in-the-moment brokenhearted playlist a couple of summers ago. I looked at that list after I put together this one — and was amused at how many repeats there are, and ticked that I missed some good ones.

But back to this week's mix tape. This seems to be the current playlist throughout my circle. Seven or eight of my beloveds hit the breakup stage this year (must be something in the nonexistent Georgia water). This mix tape goes out to those dear friends.

This mix tape may be a discussion-only post. MyDataBitch is acting pissy ... again ... and the support team has yet to return my calls. I’ll let you Cupettes know when the site gets it uploading/downloading act together again.

Whether or not you’re suffering from a broken heart, you still probably enjoy a good sob over a sad song. I know I do. Folks take their heartbreak tunes seriously. Had dinner last night with David C, the long-lost high school buddy, and he kicked me under the table when I told him that, no, there were no Tom Petty songs on this breakup tape.

So I’m curious: What’s on your playlist when the heart’s been stomped?

Bonnie Raitt: Cry Like a Rainstorm

Jeff Buckley: Last Goodbye

Johnny Cash: Hurt

Beck: Lost Cause

Ryan Adams feat. Chris Stills: Harder Now That It's Over

The Replacements: Sadly Beautiful

Me'shell Ndegeocello: Fool of Me

eels: It’s a Motherfucker

Joy Division: Love Will Tear Us Apart

The B-52's: Give Me Back My Man

Ben Folds Five: Song for the Dumped

Kelis: Caught out There

The Minus 5: I’m Not Bitter

Spoon: Everything Hits at Once

The Temptations: (I Know) I’m Losing You

Hüsker Dü: Never Talking to You Again

The Ramones: Glad to See You Go

Grant Lee Phillips: Sadness Soot

R.E.M.: Near Wild Heaven

Billy Bragg: Wish You Were Her

American Music Club: Goodbye to Love

Broken Social Scene feat. Feist: Lover’s Spit

Aimee Mann: One

Lyle Lovett: Nobody Knows Me

Glen Campbell: By the Time I Get to Phoenix

Gregg Allman: These Days

Guy Clark feat. Nanci Griffith: Dublin Blues

Wilco: How to Fight Loneliness

Sheryl Crow: My Favorite Mistake

Johnette Napolitano + Marc Moreland: Hurting Each Other

Elvis Costello: Indoor Fireworks

Frank Sinatra: One for My Baby (and One More for the Road)

Warren Zevon: Accidentally Like a Martyr

Bob Dylan: Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right

Cat Power feat. Eddie Vedder: Good Woman

Harold Melvin & The Bluenotes: The Love I Lost (Part 1)

Angie Stone: Wish I Didn’t Miss You

Love & Rockets: Haunted When the Minutes Drag

Cracker: I Can’t Forget You

The 5th Dimension: One Less Bell to Answer

Gram Parsons feat. Emmylou Harris: Love Hurts

Sinead O’Connor: Nothing Compares 2 U

Ricky Fanté: Love Doesn't Live Here No More

Shelby Lynne: Your Lies

Tower of Power: So Very Hard to Go

Patsy Cline: I Fall to Pieces

Dire Straits: Romeo and Juliet

Emmylou Harris: Goodbye

Liz Phair: Divorce Song

Willie Nelson: Sad Songs and Waltzes

Nanci Griffith: Late Night Grande Hotel

In case you’re so heartbroken you need every damn song, here’s the zipped heartache for your sobbing soundtrack.

I opened and closed this mix tape with my two favorite heart-wrenchers. “Cry Like a Rainstorm,” in my opinion, is the best Bonnie Raitt ever sounded; her voice evokes that feeling of crying until it hurts. Nanci Griffith’s “Late Night Grande Hotel” rips me apart every time, especially the line ’Cause living alone is all I’ve ever done well; she’s talking to me. And don’t get me started on Warren Zevon’s Never thought I'd ever be so lonely / After such a long, long time.

Pissed off at the bastard who bruised your heart? Sing along with Kelis’ “Caught out There.” Got me through some rough days. “It’s a Motherfucker” is another good one. But you may want to be careful; I was playing it at my desk one day when my CEO stopped by (luckily, he laughed).

Jackson Browne’s “These Days” is one of those songs everyone covers. Nico’s original is cool, but I’ve always preferred Gregg Allman’s version (so does Lucinda Williams). His voice brings the hurt to the song. Speaking of hurt, who can stay dry-eyed when listening to Johnny Cash’s cover?

Which songs bring tears to your eyes and aches to your heart?

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